Rolls Royce Silver Shadow

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow

The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow is a luxury car that was produced in the United Kingdom in various forms from 1965 to 1980.It was the first Rolls-Royce to use:Unitary bodyChassis constructionThis was in response to concerns that the company was falling behind in innovation.The Silver Shadow has the largest production volume of any Rolls-RoyceOverviewThe standard wheelbase Silver Shadow measured 224 inches (5,700 mm), 4,700 lb (2,100 kg) and had a book price of £6,557 in the first year of production.The Silver Shadow was produced from 1965 to 1976, and the Silver Shadow II from 1977 to 1980.

Naming

Initially, the model was planned to be called "Silver MistThe name was changed to "Silver Shadow"

Design and engineering

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow IThe design was a major departure from its predecessor, the Silver Cloud.Several styling cues from the Silver Cloud were modified and preserved,The John Polwhele Blatchley design was the firm's first single bow model.More than 50% of its predecessor had been sold on the domestic market.The original Shadow was 3 1⁄2 inches (8.9 cm) narrower and 7 inches (18 cm) shorter than the car it replacedIt offered increased passenger and luggage space thanks to more efficient packaging made possible by unitary construction.The Silver Shadow introduced many new features such as:Disc rather than drum brakesIndependent rear suspension

The Shadow featured a:172 hp (128 kW) 6.2 L V8 from 1965 to 1969,A 189 hp (141 kW) 6.75 L V8 from 1970 to 1980Both powerplants were coupled to a General Motors-sourced Turbo Hydramatic 400 automatic transmissionIt used the same 4-speed automatic gearbox as the Silver Cloud (also sourced from General Motors, the Hydramatic).The car's most innovative feature was:A high-pressure hydraulic system licensed from CitroënIt had dual-circuit brakingHydraulic self-levelling suspensionBoth the front and rear of the car were controlled by:The leveling systemThe front levelling was deleted in 1969.

Silver Shadow II

The upper front grill of the 1972 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, showing the Rolls-Royce logo and the "Spirit of Ecstasy".In 1977, the model was renamed the Silver Shadow IIThere were several changes including:Rack and pinion steeringModifications to the front suspension improved handling markedlyThe bumpers were changed from chrome to alloy and rubber starting with the late 1976 Silver Shadows. These new energy absorbing bumpers had been used in the United States since 1974, as a response to tightening safety standards there. Deletion of the small grilles mounted beneath the headlamps. A front skirt was also fitted to the Silver Shadow II and its sister cars.In 1979 75 Silver Shadow II cars were specially fitted to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the company with the:Original red "RR" badges front and rearPewter/silver paint, gray leather with red pipingScarlet red carpets,Silver commemorative placard on the inside of the glove box door33 75th anniversary cars were designated for and shipped to the North American market.

Long-wheelbase variant

A long-wheelbase variant, some 4 inches longer to provide additional rear seat legroom, was offered in the United States from May 1969.Some long-wheelbase models were fitted with a privacy glass dividerThe cars with a divider were fitted with a separate air conditioning unit mounted in the trunkThe cars with a divider lost the entire gain in wheelbase and was retractable.

Silver Wraith II

Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith II (North America)The long-wheelbase model did not have a separate name, but was dubbed the Silver Wraith II.The Wraith II is identified by all alterations found on the Silver Shadow II and additionally:An Everflex-covered roof (also available as an option on the Silver Shadow II)Smaller rear opera-style window Different wheel covers. Some Silver Wraith IIs were also fitted with electric divisions which took up the extra four inches of leg room in the rear.

Silver Shadow two-door models

A two-door saloon was introduced early in 1966.A convertible in 1967There are two different versions for the two-door saloon:One by Mulliner Park Ward and James Young model which was only built in fifty examples.These comprised 35 Rolls-Royces and 15 Bentleys. The James Young version was discontinued in 1967, leaving only the curvier Mulliner Park Ward model. The convertible variant was marketed as the Silver Shadow

Drophead Coupé.

CornicheRolls-Royce CornicheIn 1971 the Silver Shadow two door models were given the separate identity of Corniche They went on to outlive the Silver Shadow by some yearsProduction lasted until 1982 for the coupé and 1996 for the convertible.

Camargue

Rolls-Royce CamargueAnother coupé variant on the Shadow platform was the CamargueThe bodywork designed by the Italian firm PininfarinaThey were produced from 1975 to 1986The Camargue had the distinction of being the most expensive production Rolls-Royce.

Bentley models

A Bentley version of the Shadow, known as the Bentley T (and Bentley T2 from 1977), was also made. It was mechanically identical and differed only in:The badgingDesign of the radiator shellMore rounded radiator also required a slightly reshaped bonnet profileA different front bumper and hubcapsEngine valve covers with a "Bentley" logo were only used when the factory had them available.The long-wheelbase version was simply called T long-wheelbase or T2 long-wheelbaseOnly 9 or 10 examples were builtThis was less than 0.4% of the total long-wheelbase productionMost limousine buyers had a preference for the more prestigious Rolls-Royce brand.All two-door cars were also available as Bentleys. However, only one example of a Bentley Camargue was ever produced.

Shadow-based Phantom VII

Rolls-Royce considered offering a Phantom VII model, based on the Silver ShadowIt was not pursued.

Silver Wraith II Stretch Limousine

The Rolls-Royce factory built a special stretch limousine in 1979. It was ordered by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.The religious leader had a collection of 93 Rolls-Royce cars.

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